Springs, Lauderhill Gain Municipal Honors

Kaplan Selected Mayor Of The Year

July 18, 2004|By Susannah Bryan Staff Writer

Coral Springs and Lauderhill have reason to brag after snaring honors from the Florida League of Cities.

The organization recently crowned Lauderhill's Richard J. Kaplan Mayor of the Year while dubbing Coral Springs the state's City of Excellence in an inaugural awards program designed to showcase all the good cities do.

"We're honored," Coral Springs City Manager Michael Levinson said Tuesday. "We're proud of this award and others we've received. But we're especially proud of the accomplishments we've made to win them."

Kaplan found out about his new honor after getting a phone call from Vice Mayor Margaret Bates, who attended the awards ceremony in Orlando in his place.

"She said I'm standing here holding your award," said Kaplan, who was in Boston for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. "I was happy -- and surprised."

Coral Springs was also chosen from a field of six, which included Delray Beach, Ocala, Port Orange, St. Petersburg and Wellington.

The awards program's nine categories drew 104 competitors overall, said Lynn Tipton, director of membership development for the Florida League of Cities. Winners were selected by an executive committee of 14 judges.

The awards program was the idea of Dottie Reeder, Florida League of Cities president and mayor of Seminole.

"She wanted to shine a positive spotlight on what cities do," Tipton said.

Two other regional cities also won honors. Lula Butler, representing Delray Beach, won the City Employee of the Year, and Jorge M. Gonzalez, representing Miami Beach, won City Manager of the Year.